What is the Deal with Parking?

TCC is happy to join the Downtown Seattle Association and a host of other groups in co-sponsoring a parking forum on Jan 26th.  This is should be a great event, and we hope to see you there!

Park Smart: A Forum to Raise the Bar on Good Parking Policy

Parking has been a hot topic in the news over the last year. Reading the headlines and blogs you’d think there were just two points of view: those who think free parking Downtown is an inalienable right, and those who want to force everyone out of their cars onto transit or bicycles. We think it’s time to elevate the discussion about parking in Seattle and assess what we can learn from other cities to better manage the parking we have so that it supports a healthy, vibrant urban core. We’ve assembled a terrific panel that includes policy makers, national experts, transportation officials and a UW researcher to lead an informed discussion about the best approaches to managing parking in dense urban areas.

Bring a lunch to this FREE forum (no registration necessary) hosted by Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chair of Seattle’s Transportation Committee; and moderated by Downtown Seattle Association President Kate Joncas.

        Time: 11:45am – 1:15pm

        Date:  Wednesday, January 26

        Location: Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room 600

Featured Panelists:    

L. Dennis Burns, CAPP, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Dennis Burns is a senior practice builder and regional vice president for Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Burns is a certified administrator of pubilc parking and has nearly 30 years of parking operations, management and consulting experience. His focus in recent years includes parking and transportation strategic planning, ’smart parking‘ system development and urban space management concepts. In 2010, Mr. Burns was the recipient of International Parking Institute's ”Parking Professional of the Year,“ and was a featured speaker at the first-ever Green Gov Symposium in Washington, DC.

Rick Williams, BPM Development Company

Rick Williams is a transportation demand management expert from Portland, OR with more than 20 years of experience. From 1989-1995, he managed Portland’s 3,500-stall Smart Park system and its 208-block downtown business improvement district. In 1995, Mr. Williams helped establish the Lloyd Transportation Management Association, and currently works both as its executive director and as an independent transportation management consultant for clients throughout North America.

Joining the panel will be Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess, sponsor of variable price parking legislation, and Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs Senior Lecturer Daniel Carlson, who specializes in community and economic development, and transportation and land use in metropolitan areas. Seattle Department of Transportation Parking Operations and Traffic Permits Manager Mike Estey will also discuss the City's new on-street parking policy.

Presented by: Downtown Seattle Association, BOMA, City of Seattle, Commute Seattle, GreatCity, Seattle Hotel Association, Washington Restaurant Association and Transportation Choices Coalition

Make Your Voice Heard: Eastside Transit Town Hall

This just in from Jan Hague's office, make sure that if you are an Eastside resident that cares about transit service you attend this town hall and make your voice heard!  The county e-mail did not include transit directions but it looks like it is an easy walk from the Mercer Island Transit Center, which has frequent service.

Invitation to a town hall meeting on Eastside transit

Join Councilmember Jane Hague (Council District 6) and Councilmember Kathy Lambert (Council District 3) for a town hall discussion on transit. The town hall is scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 6:30 p.m. at the Mercer Island Community Center. Hope to see you there!
Driving Directions to the Community Center at Mercer View:
8236 SE 24th Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040
(206) 275-7609

I-90 Eastbound from Seattle: take exit #7A, 77th Ave SE. Turn left across the freeway. At stop sign turn right onto North Mercer Way. Go one long block to the stop light. Go straight though the stop light. Turn left onto 81st Avenue SE. Turn right onto SE 24th Street. The Community Center is two blocks up on your left.

I-90 Westbound from Bellevue: take exit #7, Island Crest Way. Continue straight ahead. Turn right on 81st Avenue SE. Turn right on SE 24th Street. The Community Center is two blocks up on your left.

"I Can't Believe So Many People Care about Buses"

Last night as I stood in a crowded room at the Hub in Tacoma, I was reminded why we get up and do what we do everyday at TCC.

At the campaign kickoff for "Save our Buses", the campaign to stave off 35% cuts to bus service in Pierce County, the community came out in full force supporting the measure.  While we were checking people in and the line was snaking out to the door, one of the campaign staffers leaned over to me and said, "This is awesome, I can't believe so many people care about buses."

Working at TCC I have the pleasure, time and time again, to hear why transit service is important to people across Washington State.  Last night we had over 100 people turn out to Save Our Buses in Pierce County because they care, they care about their community and the important role transit plays to build their community.  Last night the room was packed with those stories of why bus service matters.  Whether it was a visually impaired rider who relies on the bus for independence or a Downtown Tacoma commuter who uses the bus to save money, the stories were endless and encouraging.

Thank for turning out for the campaign kick-off !  If you were not able to attend or don't live in Pierce County, please consider visiting the campaign website to learn how you can volunteer or donate approveprop1.com or by visiting the campaign on facebook.  As Rep. Liias pointed out in his editorial today, this election is important not just for Pierce County residents but for advocates of transportation choices from across the state.

Happy rainy Friday, thank you for all that you do and stay tuned.  Here are some photos of last night's festivities.

 A crowded House 

Mayor Strickland Brings the Message Home

Legislative Session Preview

The 2011 legislative session begins on Monday. This year, TCC will work for policies and funding that help reduce congestion, combat climate change, and foster economic recovery. We will be posting regular updates on our efforts in Olympia here at Moving Forward, and will include lists of what is coming up in the week ahead.

For more on our 2011 legislative agenda please visit: http://www.transportationchoices.org/agendachoices.asp.

PREVIEW

As the 2011 legislative session begins on Monday, we are faced with a session dominated by the State’s budget woes. The legislature needs to address the half billion shortfall for the current biennium, while they adopt a 2011-2013 budget, that is down $4.6 billion. The transportation budget faces a $65 million shortfall in the current biennium and a $90 million shortfall for the 2011-2013 biennial budget.

Those who rely on busses and other forms of public transportation are starting to feel the sting on service cuts all around Washington State. Twelve transit agencies from rural and urban areas across the state have reduced service since 2009, making it harder for people without cars to get to work, doctor’s appointments, and around town. Funding for buses and public transit are at crisis levels in Washington State. While Washington State transit ridership has seen tremendous increases over the past five years; insufficient funding mechanisms and the recession have left transit agencies unable to meet current ridership needs. King County Metro alone is looking at cutting as many as 600,000 hours of bus service within the next four years.

On top of these cuts in local transit operations, the Governor and Washington State Department of Transportation have put forward a transportation budget that proposes damaging cuts to transit and multi-modal transportation. It slashes funding for the Regional Mobility Grants in half- the only state funded grant program that supports major transit projects. This cut is disproportionate to the overall cuts in the budget. If this cut is accepted by legislators, it threatens many key projects, including; the Rapid Ride D line that connects Ballard to downtown, service improvements in Burien, development of the Tukwila Transit Center and bus service in Tumwater and Lakewood. TCC will work maintain the current funding levels for this critical program.

NEXT WEEK

The first week of session offers many work sessions of interest. Remember, you can follow many of these session at home via TVW:

http://www.tvw.org/index.cfm?bhcp=1.

Monday, 1/10/11

3:30 pm House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session:

1. Governor's Budget and Performance Report.
2. Secretary's State of Transportation Report.

Tuesday, 1/11/11

3:30 pm Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1, J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session: State agency introductions and session previews:

1. Washington State Department of Transportation.
2. Washington Transportation Commission.

Wednesday, 1/12/11

1:30 pm Local Government
House Hearing Rm E, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session: The Growth Management Act: requirements and implementation.

3:30 pm Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1, J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session: Local agency introductions and session previews:

1. Transportation Improvement Board.
2. County Road Administration Board.
3. Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board.

Thursday, 1/13/11

3:30 pm House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B, John L. O'Brien Building
Work Session:

1. Washington State Transportation Commission introduction and Washington Transportation plan briefing.

3:30 pm Senate Transportation

Senate Hearing Rm 1, J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session:

1. "Washington Transportation Plan 2030" - Washington Transportation Commission.
2. Transportation Investment - Washington State Department of Transportation.

Look for future updates and opportunities to get involved, and sign up for Transportation Lobby Day, for a chance to make a difference in WA transportation policy.

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5153/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=2894

Reminder Friday Forum on Federal FTA/HUD Partnership update TODAY at Noon!

This is just a quick reminder that our January Friday Forum is Tomorrow at Noon! Please join us for an update on the US Department of Transportation and US Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Partnership.  Please join TCC, Ron Posthuma (Assistant Director of  The Office of Regional Transportation Planning at King County Metro), Mary McBride (HUD Region 10 Administrator), and the Federal Transit Administration for a quick update on what is going on in Congress and an in-depth look at local impacts of the sustainable communities partnership between HUD and DOT. 

WHAT: Federal Transportation Update
WHEN: Friday January 7th, 12:00 -1:30 pm
WHERE: Seattle-King County Public Health - Chinook Building, Room 121, 401 Fifth Ave., Seattle

As always, feel free to bring your lunch!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS OF THE FRIDAY FORUM SERIES

PLATINUM
AECOM
CH2MHill
Vulcan

GOLD
The Boeing Company
HDR Inc.
Parametrix
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Seattle Children's Hospital
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
UW Transportation Services

SILVER
HNTB Corporation
Wilbur Smith Associates

Sound Transit Station Access Open Houses

The RAMP blog reports that Sound transit will be holding open houses to provide updates on their South Sounder Station access plans. 

These meetings are important to South Sound supporters of Transportation Choices because public input will help shape ultimately how this money is spent.  Should we fund more shuttle transit service and bike infrastructure to the stations or just build more free parking in the heart of our downtowns?  I bet you can't guess where we stand.

Please attend these meetings and make your voice heard!

WHAT:             In January, Sound Transit will host a series of open houses in South Sound communities to present information on the Sounder Station Access Planning Study. The agency is conducting the study to identify potential improvements in the ways commuters access its Sounder stations.

Possible improvements the agency is studying include increased parking, pedestrian sidewalks, crosswalks and bridges, bicycle commute options, and transit facility enhancements.

Open houses will include:

·         A description of Sound Transit service areas, transit routes, 2011 budget, and the Sound Transit 2 program

·        Objectives of and timeline for the Sounder Station Access Planning Study

·        Overview of existing station access issues and discussion of potential solutions

·        Informal Q & A and public comment

WHEN:  All events take place from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Tacoma - Tuesday, Jan. 18University of Washington -Tacoma Jane Russell Commons 1918 Pacific Avenue	Sumner - Wednesday, Jan. 19 Sumner School High School Commons 1707 Main St.
Puyallup - Thursday, Jan. 20Puyallup City Hall: Chamber Hall 333 South Meridian	Lakewood – Tuesday, Jan. 25 Lakewood Boys & Girls Club 10402 Kline St SW
Kent - Wednesday, Jan. 26Kent Senior Activity Center 600 E. Smith Street	Auburn - Thursday, Jan. 27Auburn City Hall: Council Chamber 25 W. Main Street

Stay Safe: Take Sounder to the Seahawks Playoff Game on Sunday

It is old new by now that the Seahawk's are the first time ever to go the the NFL playoffs with a losing record, can you believe that?

Thankfully you can enjoy next Sunday's out of the ordinary home game without having to worry about parking or your alcohol consumption thanks to Sound Transit special Sounder Service to the game.  Here is all of the info:

Take the Sounder train to the Seahawks game on Saturday

Sound Transit will operate special Sounder service Saturday to the Seattle Seahawks’ playoff game against the New Orleans Saints at Qwest Field at 1:30 p.m.

Two northbound trains will leave Tacoma at 10:05 and 10:45 a.m. A third train departs Sumner at 10:37 a.m. The 10:05 train from Tacoma will be an express service to Seattle with a stop in Puyallup.

Two southbound trains will leave Everett at 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with stops in Mukilteo and Edmonds.

Return service to Tacoma will depart King Street Station 10, 20 and 40 minutes after the game and stop at all stations. Northbound trips will depart 15 and 30 minutes after the game.

In addition to its special Sounder service, Sound Transit’s Link light rail offers fast, convenient service to and from the stadium. Link light rail serves 13 stations in downtown Seattle, SODO, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, Tukwila and SeaTac, and its Stadium Station is only a half-block walk to Safeco Field. Schedules for all Sound Transit services are available at www.soundtransit.org.

Regular fares apply for all Sound Transit services. ORCA and all valid transit passes will be accepted. 

Of course Metro and Central link will be on a normal Sunday Service, which are both good other options for your car-free trip to the game.